Comments on: Charter Review Committee Wants To Make Century Mayor A Council Member http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:01:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Citizen http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469163 Citizen Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:57:03 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469163 http://www.northescambia.com/2019/03/century-council-seeks-help-after-grand-jury-recommendations Yes here is one article. Is the state and county watching the town still? We need a follow up and update. http://www.northescambia.com/2019/03/century-council-seeks-help-after-grand-jury-recommendations

Yes here is one article.

Is the state and county watching the town still?

We need a follow up and update.

]]> By: Edna Earle http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469150 Edna Earle Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:08:56 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469150 I don't know where this committee is coming from.....????? .WE THE PEOPLE ELECTED, Ben Boutwell. to represent OUR town as our MAYOR........not a council member. Give the man a chance to do the job as mayor, HE IS CAPABLE... Maybe a good place to start would be some education about the responsibility of the council and mayor. ALL are elected ~~~~...arrive at meetings on time with knowledge of subjects to be discussed........ Please try to find ways to work together. You were elected to HELP the town survive and grow ....It's OUR town ......Please work together to try to keep it...otherwise ~~~~???????? WE all know the answer~~~ I don’t know where this committee is coming from…..????? .WE THE PEOPLE ELECTED, Ben Boutwell. to represent OUR town as our MAYOR……..not a council member.
Give the man a chance to do the job as mayor, HE IS CAPABLE… Maybe a good place to start would be some education about the responsibility of the council and mayor. ALL are elected ~~~~…arrive at meetings on time with knowledge of subjects to be discussed…….. Please try to find ways to work together. You were elected to HELP the town survive and grow ….It’s OUR town ……Please work together to try to keep it…otherwise ~~~~???????? WE all know the answer~~~

]]> By: Connie http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469139 Connie Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:15:48 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469139 I agree with both "Jim Stanton" a nd "Things not what they seem.... on October 13th". Let the ELECTED Mayor do his job and please hire for the right reasons not because you are a friend, relative, etc. The town needs people working to make it a better place, it also needs knowledgeable people in place to keep things running efficiently. I have commented many times on this forum, I have lived in Century for a year and a half and I truly want to see this little town be all that it can be. I hate hearing people laugh and run down this town. Please people understand that Ben Boutwell was elected by majority vote, let him do his job, don't take away the vote of the people. I agree with both “Jim Stanton” a nd “Things not what they seem…. on October 13th”. Let the ELECTED Mayor do his job and please hire for the right reasons not because you are a friend, relative, etc. The town needs people working to make it a better place, it also needs knowledgeable people in place to keep things running efficiently. I have commented many times on this forum, I have lived in Century for a year and a half and I truly want to see this little town be all that it can be. I hate hearing people laugh and run down this town. Please people understand that Ben Boutwell was elected by majority vote, let him do his job, don’t take away the vote of the people.

]]> By: William Reynolds http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469111 William Reynolds Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:09:44 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469111 "On second thought, yes I think additional suggestions were made by a consultation with Florida League of Cities" He was an independent consultant hired by the Florida League of Cities. His report was his independent recommendations, not of those of the League. He recommend town officials learn about government operations, then have a "comprehensive review" of the charter. That was open-ended, calling for the review but not specifically a rewrite. A strong executive administrator was recommended by him. “On second thought, yes I think additional suggestions were made by a consultation with Florida League of Cities”

He was an independent consultant hired by the Florida League of Cities. His report was his independent recommendations, not of those of the League.

He recommend town officials learn about government operations, then have a “comprehensive review” of the charter. That was open-ended, calling for the review but not specifically a rewrite.

A strong executive administrator was recommended by him.

]]> By: Citizen http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469110 Citizen Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:02:03 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469110 William On second thought, yes I think additional suggestions were made by a consultation with Florida League of Cities. I think I'll go look for those also. I was surprised they didn't follow the suggestion of the Grand Jury actually. William
On second thought, yes I think additional suggestions were made by a consultation with Florida League of Cities. I think I’ll go look for those also.

I was surprised they didn’t follow the suggestion of the Grand Jury actually.

]]> By: Citizen http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469107 Citizen Thu, 14 Oct 2021 03:56:20 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469107 Mr Stanton The county wasn't paying two Administrators exactly although the past one has two assistant Administrators on the payroll. Additional Thoughts: As far as people who put in their name to run on the council and the electorate voted for them, Why? Do they know how to run a town? You have to have someone who understands the laws and sets out to do things in a timely matter by Florida Statutes, you have to maintain the utilities and bill correctly. The Grand Jury suggested to sell all the utilities and divest the liability. It looks like the gas department is up to par now. What happened with selling it to Pensacola Energy? People may not be at the meetings but we are watching. There just aren't a lot of people that live here that have a lot of talent to maintain the incorporation. We were on the final thread yet things were looking up. Surprise us. Don't try to hire a friend of a friend of a friend in the community. Hire someone who knows how to do the job as manager. Or throw in the towel. Mr Stanton
The county wasn’t paying two Administrators exactly although the past one has two assistant Administrators on the payroll.

Additional Thoughts:

As far as people who put in their name to run on the council and the electorate voted for them, Why? Do they know how to run a town?

You have to have someone who understands the laws and sets out to do things in a timely matter by Florida Statutes, you have to maintain the utilities and bill correctly.

The Grand Jury suggested to sell all the utilities and divest the liability.
It looks like the gas department is up to par now. What happened with selling it to Pensacola Energy?

People may not be at the meetings but we are watching.

There just aren’t a lot of people that live here that have a lot of talent to maintain the incorporation. We were on the final thread yet things were looking up.

Surprise us.
Don’t try to hire a friend of a friend of a friend in the community. Hire someone who knows how to do the job as manager.

Or throw in the towel.

]]> By: William Reynolds http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469106 William Reynolds Thu, 14 Oct 2021 03:48:59 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469106 "A grand Jury was assembled and made a report with some suggestions, to update the charter was a suggestion. There were others, one was to have a town manager." Neither of those "suggestions" or recommendations were made by the Grand Jury. (An amendment to the charter was recommended to "provide that the Town will be solely responsible for roads, parks and land use programs", but there was nothing more.) “A grand Jury was assembled and made a report with some suggestions, to update the charter was a suggestion. There were others, one was to have a town manager.”

Neither of those “suggestions” or recommendations were made by the Grand Jury. (An amendment to the charter was recommended to “provide that the Town will be solely responsible for roads, parks and land use programs”, but there was nothing more.)

]]> By: Citizen http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469105 Citizen Thu, 14 Oct 2021 03:39:08 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469105 To JEC A grand Jury was assembled and made a report with some suggestions, to update the charter was a suggestion. There were others, one was to have a town manager. At the time SAO returned no true bill. March 2019 The town council called for applications for volunteers and they formed a Citizen Advisory Task Force, which is appointed and they are under the sunshine law. . They are residents. I think there are some bylaws but essentially they report their suggestions to the council and the council does what they need to do to get it on the ballot for a vote from the residents. I think the council can vote to sunset the committee also. They need to take another look over the Grand Jury Report and make sure they have taken steps and continue to remedy mismanagement. Buz Eddy came in for a while and suggested Mr. Prather. Since Mr. Prather is resigning, it seems we are back at square 1, except some changes were made. Some were not. It might behoove then to look over that document again. One suggestion was they ask the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee to look over their operations. Did they? To JEC
A grand Jury was assembled and made a report with some suggestions, to update the charter was a suggestion. There were others, one was to have a town manager. At the time SAO returned no true bill. March 2019

The town council called for applications for volunteers and they formed a Citizen Advisory Task Force, which is appointed and they are under the sunshine law. . They are residents.

I think there are some bylaws but essentially they report their suggestions to the council and the council does what they need to do to get it on the ballot for a vote from the residents.

I think the council can vote to sunset the committee also.

They need to take another look over the Grand Jury Report and make sure they have taken steps and continue to remedy mismanagement.

Buz Eddy came in for a while and suggested Mr. Prather. Since Mr. Prather is resigning, it seems we are back at square 1, except some changes were made.

Some were not. It might behoove then to look over that document again. One suggestion was they ask the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee to look over their operations. Did they?

]]> By: JEC http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469100 JEC Thu, 14 Oct 2021 00:39:35 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469100 So what exactly are the qualifications of this committee to re-organize any form of government? Who actually called on them to do this? So what exactly are the qualifications of this committee to re-organize any form of government? Who actually called on them to do this?

]]> By: CJ Lewis http://www.northescambia.com/2021/10/charter-review-committee-wants-to-make-century-mayor-a-council-member/comment-page-1#comment-469088 CJ Lewis Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:20:33 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=457787#comment-469088 The simplest way to set up an effective Council-Manager form of government with a professional chief administrative officer (who should be required to live in Century) and a leadership mayor who is a voting member and the presiding officer of the council would be to avoid the usual laundry list of powers and duties. Simply say that the town manager shall exercise the powers and perform the duties as directed by the town council and the mayor shall exercise the additional powers and additional duties - above and beyond those of a regular council member - as directed by the town council. The town council can adopt ordinances or resolutions to lay out these powers and duties. They can also just talk among themselves and ask the mayor to do something and he or she likely would. Not everything has to be done formally by vote. This approach gives flexibility to make regular adjustments without voter approval of every minor change to include punctuation. It also provides growth room so that as the town council gets more comfortable with the town manager they can give that person more latitude. Right now, it is pretty shocking that the town council is far down in the weeds on petty issues. As the new charter gets sore more details, it should provide for all "at-large" elections by which I mean every Century voter gets to vote in every town council election. That ensures fuller accountability and should not be an issue in a place like Century where everyone knows each other. In addition, changing to two year terms of office will keep council members more on their toes again making them more accountable to voters. Add a provision that says if a council member fails to attend the full duration of a requirement meeting - from start to finish - their pay gets docked say 1% for the rest of their term of office. If they fail to attend a certain percentage of meetings within a certain time frame, say 85% within any period of six months, the Charter could provide that they forfeit their elected office by operation of law and are removed from office. That will ensure they show up. Of course, there would be exceptions for medical or family emergencies but just not feeling like you want to show up at a meeting, a common practice in Pensacola, is a shameful practice especially when they demand to be paid in full. To get things moving, the Charter Review Committee could right now ask the Town Council to ask voters to approve making the Mayor a voting member and the leader of the council. The Council President would be abolished. State law permits these changes in powers and duties to be made prior to the end of the term of office of an elected official. I think doing that change now would quiet down those who thing that any changes are personnel directed at Mayor Boutwell. I suspect that everyone's stress level would go down if the new arrangement provided for the mayor to work as part of the council vice as an adversary. I would encourage the Century Mayor and Town Council to take a field trip to Gulf Breeze to attend a Gulf Breeze City Council meeting. See how it works there and it does. Hey, how about Century and Gulf Breeze becoming "sister cities" to work together on projects! The simplest way to set up an effective Council-Manager form of government with a professional chief administrative officer (who should be required to live in Century) and a leadership mayor who is a voting member and the presiding officer of the council would be to avoid the usual laundry list of powers and duties. Simply say that the town manager shall exercise the powers and perform the duties as directed by the town council and the mayor shall exercise the additional powers and additional duties – above and beyond those of a regular council member – as directed by the town council. The town council can adopt ordinances or resolutions to lay out these powers and duties. They can also just talk among themselves and ask the mayor to do something and he or she likely would. Not everything has to be done formally by vote. This approach gives flexibility to make regular adjustments without voter approval of every minor change to include punctuation. It also provides growth room so that as the town council gets more comfortable with the town manager they can give that person more latitude. Right now, it is pretty shocking that the town council is far down in the weeds on petty issues. As the new charter gets sore more details, it should provide for all “at-large” elections by which I mean every Century voter gets to vote in every town council election. That ensures fuller accountability and should not be an issue in a place like Century where everyone knows each other. In addition, changing to two year terms of office will keep council members more on their toes again making them more accountable to voters. Add a provision that says if a council member fails to attend the full duration of a requirement meeting – from start to finish – their pay gets docked say 1% for the rest of their term of office. If they fail to attend a certain percentage of meetings within a certain time frame, say 85% within any period of six months, the Charter could provide that they forfeit their elected office by operation of law and are removed from office. That will ensure they show up. Of course, there would be exceptions for medical or family emergencies but just not feeling like you want to show up at a meeting, a common practice in Pensacola, is a shameful practice especially when they demand to be paid in full. To get things moving, the Charter Review Committee could right now ask the Town Council to ask voters to approve making the Mayor a voting member and the leader of the council. The Council President would be abolished. State law permits these changes in powers and duties to be made prior to the end of the term of office of an elected official. I think doing that change now would quiet down those who thing that any changes are personnel directed at Mayor Boutwell. I suspect that everyone’s stress level would go down if the new arrangement provided for the mayor to work as part of the council vice as an adversary. I would encourage the Century Mayor and Town Council to take a field trip to Gulf Breeze to attend a Gulf Breeze City Council meeting. See how it works there and it does. Hey, how about Century and Gulf Breeze becoming “sister cities” to work together on projects!

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